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September 26, 2003
A rewarding final year
Canadian Jewish Congress presidents bids farewell.
KEITH M. LANDY SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH BULLETIN
As this will be my last Rosh Hashanah as the national president
of Canadian Jewish Congress (CJC), I would like to contemplate some
of the organization's extraordinary challenges and remarkable achievements
over the past year.
Rosh Hashanah of 5763 had barely ended when, on 3 Tishri, a violent
mob forced the cancellation of Binyamin Netanyahu's speech at Concordia
University. Within days of the riot, CJC Quebec Region met with
Montreal's chief of police.
When, two months later, the Concordia Students' Union (CSU) voted
to ban Hillel, something had to be done. The student group decided
to sue the CSU and the Concordia administration and CJC offered
advice, office space and established a special Legal Assistance
Fund. CJC also sought and obtained intervener status in the case
that goes to court in October.
I admire the courage, strength and resolve of the Jewish student
leaders at Concordia. We must be there to assist while allowing
them to lead the fight. CJC's involvement is intended to be a tangible
demonstration of support from the official voice of the Jewish community.
Last November, CJC mounted an international conference in Montreal,
entitled Jews from Arab Lands: A Forgotten Exodus. Attended by a
crowd of nearly 500, it focused on the largely untold story of the
900,000 Jews forced from their homes in Arab countries around the
time of Israel's War of Independence. We must ensure that the plight
of Jews forced from Arab countries be included in the historical
narrative of the Middle East conflict. Any future peace plan must
address, as a matter of international law and morality, the material
losses of Jewish individual and communal property. The United Nations
Resolution 242 calls for "a just settlement of the refugee
problem." It makes no distinction between Arab and Jewish refugees.
The Jewish community of Canada and CJC were once again thrust into
the international spotlight by the shocking statements of native
leader David Ahenakew. I remember getting a call late on a Saturday
night in December. By early Sunday morning, CJC staff were at work,
designing the appropriate strategy in response. The outpouring of
support for our community and the strong denunciation of the remarks
by First Nations' leadership and grassroots members are the enduring
legacy of that story. The renewal of the ties between the First
Nations and the Jewish community, established through our respective
national organizations, the Assembly of First Nations and CJC, is
more relevant than a discredited former chief.
CJC was particularly active on the parliamentary scene, appearing
before House of Commons and Senate committees and presenting briefs
on several proposed legislative changes to the Criminal Code and
laws pertaining to citizenship and immigration that affect our community
interests. We were also busy with the Department of Foreign Affairs,
presenting briefs in advance of Canada's participation at the UN
Commission of Human Rights in Geneva. CJC also answered Foreign
Affairs Minister Bill Graham's call for input on Canada's foreign
policy, submitting a document dealing with international anti-Semitism,
terrorism, Jews from Arab lands and support for Israel.
Officials from Foreign Affairs and the Department of Canadian Heritage
looked to CJC for its expertise as they prepared for Canada's participation
in a conference on anti-Semitism convened by the Organization for
Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). Currently, staff from
CJC are preparing for the visit to Canada by the UN special rapporteur
on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia
and related intolerance.
As well, the prospect of Al-Jazeera being broadcast here is contrary
to the Canadian values we cherish. The 36-page legal brief we submitted
to the CRTC includes many examples of anti-Semitism and cites jurisprudence
pertaining to the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms that answers
all who would mischaracterize our opposition as quelling free speech.
These briefs and others can be found at www.cjc.ca.
I have touched on only a few of the highlights from the past year.
The year has been one of the most challenging, hectic, demanding
and ultimately rewarding of my 20-some years as a volunteer in this
community.
I wish you all a sweet year and a meaningful fast. L'shana tovah
tikateyvu.
Keith M. Landy is national president of Canadian Jewish
Congress.
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